Compressor block with banded motor

ABSTRACT

A REFRIGERANT COMPRESSOR HAVING A COMPRESSOR BLOCK WITH A LOWER PORTION DEFINING A CRANKCASE AND AN UPPER FRAGMENTARY ANNULAR PORTION DEFINING A MOUNTING FOR THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR. THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR IS BANDED TO THE UPPER FRAGMENTARY ANNULAR PORTION IN SUCH MANNER THAT IT CAN BE READILY REMOVED TO PERMIT REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR.

y 0, 1972 c. B. ELLIS 3,666,380

COMPRESSOR BLOCK WITH BANDED MOTOR Filed Sept. 1, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Cl-MRL ES 8 ELL/S W; Ma

' ATTORNEYS May 30, 1972 c. B. ELLIS COMPRESSOR BLOCK WITH BANDED MOTOR Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1, 1970 v [NVEN-TOR CHARLES H. ELL/5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 417-415 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A refrigerant compressor having a compressor block with a lower portion defining a crankcase and an upper fragmentary annular portion defining a mounting for the electric drive motor. The electric drive motor is banded to the upper fragmentary annular portion in' such manner that it can be readily removed to permit repair or maintenance of the electric drive motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a refrigerant compressor and more particularly, to a refrigerant compressor incorporating a compressor block utilizing a minimum of metal. Furthermore, this invention relates to an improved refrigerant compressor having the electric drive motor secured to the compressor block in a novel fashion.

Refrigerant compressors have been made incorporating a cast iron compressor block having a lower crankcase portion and an annular tubular portion extending upwardly therefrom for retaining the electric drive motor. A vertically extending crankshaft is journalled in the compressor block and within the crankcase portion are defined a plurality of cylinders in which pistons are reciprocally mounted. These pistons are operatively connected to the crankshaft. An example of a compressor block of this type is shown in Gerteis Pat. 3,008,629.

Much of the upper annular portion of the compressor block serves no purpose insofar as supporting'the electric drive motor is concerned. The rotor of the motor is secured to the crankshaft and the stator of the motor is afiixed by bolt means or the like to the upper annular portion of the compressor block which'surrounds the stator of the electric drive motor and thus renders removal of the electric drive motor from the compressor block for repair or maintenance quite difiicult.

An object of this invention is to reduce the amount of cast material required for the compressor block in a refrigerant compressor to provide a compressor block that is readily fabricated.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved refrigerant compressor including a compressor block having a fragmentary mounting portion for the electric drive motor which will permit mounting of the electric drive motor by a band to the compressor block in such manner that it is vibration-free in use and can be readily removed from the compressor block for repair or maintenance. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS There is shown in the attached drawing a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a hermetic refrigerant compressor embodying the compressor block and mounting means for the electric drive motor of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the compressor block of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the compressor block of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a modified mounting means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a refrigerant compressor embodying the present invention. The compressor comprises a gas-tight outer housing 10 including an upper shell 12 and a lower shell 14 integrally jointed to one another as, for example, by welding. A plurality of legs 16 may be welded to the lower shell 14 of the gas-tight outer housing 10 for supporting the compressor in an upright position.

Resiliently supported within the outer housing or casing 10 of the compressor is a compression mechanism that includes a compressor block 18 having a lower crankcase portion 20 and a fragmentary upright portion 22 extending upwardly therefrom. Disposed within the crankcase portion 20 are a plurality of cylinders 24, within each of which is reciprocally disposed a piston 26. Each piston 26 is operatively connected to the eccentric portion 28 of the crankshaft 30 by means of a connecting rod 32.

Closing the end of each cylinder 24 are a valve assembly 34, which may comprise a discharge valve and a suction valve operative in a conventional fashion, and an end cap 36. Each valve assembly 34 is retained in place by means of an end cap 36 which has an annular flange 37 that is held in place by retaining means 38, for example, a retaining ring. The cylinders are communicated to a suction line 40 which is adapted to receive suction gas from interior of the outer housing and cornmunicate same to the suction chamber 42 within the cylinder 24. Discharge gas passing from the valve assembly 34 passes through the discharge line 44 and is-then transmitted from the compressor through an external discharge line in a conventional manner. An inlet fitting (not shown) is connected to the compressor casing. .10

,for permitting suction gas to enter the compressor'from the evaporator of a normal refrigeration system.

A feature of the present invention is the unique construction of the compressor block 18 which permits usage of a minimum amount of material. The compressor block is generally cast from gray iron audit is intended in the preferred embodiment that the compressor block be manufactured from this material. To effect minimization of material use, the crankcase portion 18 is skeletonized to receive the cylinder openings and excess material is avoided. Extending upwardly from the crankcase portion is the fragmentary housingor support portion 22 to which the electric drive motor is adapted to be affixed. The electric drive motor for driving the crankshaft or drive shaft 30 includes a stator 52 adapted to be detachably afiixed to the compressor block '18 by means of a band 5:8 and a rotor 54 which is adapted to be joined to the crankshaft or driveshaft 30 for rotating same. The stator 52 and rotor 54 are inductively connected one to the other to effect desired rotation of the crankshaft 30.

Though a single cylinder design is illustrated in the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the compressor block can be extended and modified so as to accommodate multi-cylinder designs.

The compressor block 18 is resiliently supported within the compressor housing by resilient means 60, comprising springs 61 disposed between flanges on the compressor block and brackets 21 secured to the lower shell 14 at space places. As seen in FIG. 1, one spring 61 is disposed between flange 19 on the compressor block 18 and flange 21.

Secured to the bottom of the compressor block 18 and forming a part thereof is a bearing plate member 70 which is adapted to journal the lower end of the crankshaft 30. The bearing plate member 70 is aifixed to the compressor block 18 by means of the bolts 71, 72 and the crankshaft 30 is retained in position by means of the bearing end plate 74 retained on the bearing plate member 70 by means of bolts 75, 76. The lower end of the compressor block 18 is disposed in the lubricant sump defined in the lower portion of the shell and oil is ingested into the rotating crankshaft 30 during operation through the opening 78 in the bearing end plate 74. Oil is carried upwardly in the crankshaft and distributed through the lubrication holes to the various lubrication surfaces.

Turning to FIG. 2, there is better illustrated the presently preferred manner of handing the electric drive motor to the fragmentary upper portion of the compressor lock. Though only one end of the band 58 is shown, it will be understood that the opposite end of the band 58 may be affixed in the same manner to the upright portion 22 of the compressor block 18. The band 58, which is preferably fabricated from a high-strength steel, is bent on its ends to form looped ends 59. A T or like retention member 80 extends through an opening in the upper portion of the fragmentary portion 22 and engages within a suitably formed opening in the loop end for receiving the looped end 59 of the band 58 and the member 80 is retained in place by a nut 81. The arrangement permits adjustment of the band 58 so as to securely tighten the stator in-position against the upper portion of the compressor block to retain the same in vibration-free association with the compressor block. It will be understood that in the event the electric drive motor 50 should fail and the compressor is sent back to a repair shop, the upper shell 12 will be removed from the lower shell 14 by "means of a cutter mechanism and the electric drive '5). The ends of the wire would be suitably secured to prevent unwrapping and to maintain the proper wire tension.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated the single-cylinder compressor block 18 of FIG. 1. The compressor block 18 includes an upper bearing portion 82 having an opening 83 therein for receiving the crankshaft 30. The left end of the compressor block as seen in FIG. 3 includes an extension member or flange member 19 having an opening 84 therein for receiving the stud of a resilient means 60. Similar openings 85 and 86 are provided in the flange portion 87 of the compressor block for receiving studs of other resilient means 69. It will be understood that as viewed in FIG. 3, there are three openings, 84, 85, 86, for receiving the studs of the three resilient means for resiliently supporting the compressor block v18 Within the refrigerant compressor.

The upright portion 22 of the compressor block 18 is generally curved to conform to the circular crosssectional exterior configuration of the stator "52. Openings 89 and 90 are provided in the upper portion of the compressor block portion 22 for receiving the members 80 securing the ends of theband 58 in place. The opening 91 is provided in the iflange 87 of the crankcase portion 20 of the compressor block for receiving the conduit 40 communicating suction gas from the interior of the compressor to the cylinder suction chamber 42 of the cylinder 24.

The compressor block 18 includes a flange portion 92. Reinforcing Webbing portions 93 and 94 depend from the flange portion 92 for reinforcing the crankcase portion defining the cylinder 24. Portions 93' and 94 may be omitted in some applications without adversely affecting the strength of the compressor block 18. Depending from the member 20 are portions 95 and 96 within which tapped holes are provided for receiving the bolts 71 and 72, respectively, for securing the bearing plate number 70 to the compressor block.

There has been provided by the present invention a skeletonized compressor block utilizing a minimum of cast material. Fabrication of the compressor block is facilitated. A further feature of this invention is that the mounting for the electric drive motor comprises merely a fragmentary upwardly extending portion of the compressor block to which the stator of the electric drive motor is secured by means of a single metal band.

While the presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A compressor including an outer housing, compression means within said outer housing including compressor block means, a crankshaft in said compressor block means, at least one cylinder defined in said compressor block means, a piston movable in said cylinder and operatively connected to said crankshaft, and a drive motor operatively connected to said crankshaft for actuating said piston in said cylinder, characterized by the compressor block means having a first portion containing the cylinder and a second fragmentary annular portion extending from said first portion and defining a mounting for said drive motor, said drive motor being secured to and retained on said second portion by means encircling same, said compressor block means being constructed and arranged so as to require a minimum of material and said drive means being fastened to said compressor block means in a sturdy, vibration-free manner.

2. A compressor as in claim 1, wherein the drive motor is secured to said compressor block means by a single metal band disposed about the drive motor and aflixed to the second portion of the compressor block means at its ends.

3. A compressor as in claim 2, wherein at least one end of the metal band is adjustably secured to the compressor block means.

4. A compressor as in claim 1, wherein the band is made from high-strength steel and is connected to the compressor block means at one end by means comprising a retaining member adjustably secured to a Wall portion of the second portion of the compressor block means.

5. A compressor as in claim 1, wherein the encircling means comprises a continuous multi-wrap member.

6. A compressor including compressor block means journalling a drive-shaft therein and motor means secured to the driveshaft for rotating same, the compressor block means having a first portion containing piston and cylinder means and a second fragmentary annular portion extending from said first portion and defining a mounting for said motor means, said motor means being secured to said second portion by means of banding dis- 6 posed about the motor means, said motor means being References Cited fastened to said compressor bloc-k means in a sturdy, UNITED STATES PATENTS vibration-free manner.

7. A compressor as in claim 6 wherein the abutting gig??? 11/ Touporg 417 415 X surfaces of the motor means and the second portion are 5 3 g g i g? complementary to one another. e 618 8. A compressor as in claim 7 wherein the inner sur- ROBERT M. WALKER Primary Examiner face of the second portion is curved and conforms to the circular cross-sectional exterior configuration of the U5. C1,X R, motor means. 10 417-902 

